West Ham United want Taiwo Awoniyi transfer as exit stance emerges

West Ham are interested in Taiwo Awoniyi but any transfer hinges on Nottingham Forest signing a replacement, according to Alex Crook.

Speaking on talkSPORT (13 January, 8:40am), Crook said Awoniyi's name has been raised as a potential target for the Hammers, with Niclas Fullkrug facing a three-month lay-off following a hamstring injury.

Awoniyi was touted as an option up front for the Irons last summer [The Athletic, 11 June], but Awoniyi's future is said to rest on Forest strengthening upfront themselves.

Crook said: “We know there’s interest in Evan Ferguson – but I’m not convinced that Brighton necessarily will sanction a loan.

“The other name that’s been mentioned to me in the last few days is Taiwo Awoniyi at Nottingham Forest, who was the main man there but has lost his place to Chris Wood.

"Forest themselves would have to bring in another striker to facilitate that move, but I think that’s certainly one to keep an eye on in the next couple of weeks.”

Graham Potter crying out for new striker transfer at West Ham

Even before signing on the dotted line to officially become the Irons' new manager last week, Graham Potter will likely have established signing a striker as the number one priority before taking charge.

The Hammers were already in desperate need of reinforcements up front even before Potter's first game, but Fullkrug being forced off just minutes into their FA Cup tie with Aston Villa compounds the issue.

Michail Antonio is out for the foreseeable future after a car accident, and Jarrod Bowen also currently being sidelined leaves a 32-year-old Danny Ings as Potter's only option in the frontline.

As a result, the new Hammers boss would likely take anyone at this rate, but Awoniyi resurfacing as an option could see them finally complete a signing they were perhaps too hasty to dismiss in the summer.

Fullkrug's transfer has been a bad move in almost every aspect at the London Stadium, but if Awoniyi can rediscover his early scoring form at Forest, he could be the answer to West Ham's striker woes.

In other West Ham news, Tony Cottee raged at an "awful" refereeing decision which changed the game against Aston Villa.

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